Evaluating and selecting mobile health apps: strategies for healthcare providers and healthcare organizations

Boudreaux, Edwin D.; Waring, Molly E.; Hayes, Rashelle B.; Sadasivam, Rajani S.; Mullen, Sean P.; Pagoto, Sherry L.

doi:10.1007/s13142-014-0293-9

Cited by 259 publications

(227 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This kind of tailored support could also be built into the app [45], which could ease the adoption by reducing the time and effort needed to get thoroughly familiar with the app. In a wider context, decision support tools for choosing the suitable evidence-based app for a particular client are also needed [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applicability of acceptance and commitment therapy-based mobile app in depression nursing

Kaipainen¹,

Välkkynen²,

Kilkku

2016

Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res.

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Due to the high burden of depression, new models and methods of mental healthcare need to be developed. Prior research has shown the potential benefits of using technology tools such as mobile apps as self-help or combined with psychological treatment. Therefore, professionals should acquaint themselves with evidence-based apps to be able to use them with clients and guide the clients in their use. The purpose of this study was to explore how an acceptance and commitment therapy-based mobile app was perceived as a self-management tool among nurses, and how it could be applied in the prevention and treatment of depression and other mental health issues. Sixteen Finnish nurses undergoing depression nurse specialist education used the app for 5 weeks and participated in semistructured focus group interviews. Interviews were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. In general, the nurses found the app suitable as a self-management tool and identified three models of using it in clinical practice. Having used the app personally, the nurses were eager to take it into use with various client groups, especially in occupational health but also in the treatment of mental health problems. However, they also raised concerns about the effort needed in familiarizing oneself with the content and pointed out specific client groups for whom the benefits of the app should be carefully weighed against the potential risks. Despite the small sample size, the findings suggest that involving technology tools as part of the nurses' education could ease their adoption in clinical practice. The degree of professional support in the app use should be aligned to the severity of the mental health problems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applicability of acceptance and commitment therapy-based mobile app in depression nursing

Kaipainen¹,

Välkkynen²,

Kilkku

2016

Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res.

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“…Rapid and widespread adoption of mobile communication technologies, such as the smart phones, tablets, and wearable devices have been shown to provide health communicators with powerful new channels for disseminating health information [10,52]. Mobile communication tools have become increasingly well-liked, adopted, and frequently used channels for communication by diverse audiences, including by members of at-risk populations who often suffer from health inequities and poor access to health information [16].…”

Section: The Promise Of Mhealthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…mHealth application provide great opportunities to reach key audiences with health information right at the point when they are making important health decisions, providing these audiences with relevant health information exactly when they need it and where they need it [26]. Advances in mHealth technologies are making these communication tools increasingly easy to use, enable them to disseminate a variety of different message formats (text, oral, graphic, video, etc), and enable interactivity (feedback between health communicators) [10]. mHealth technologies can be integrated with other digital health tools, such as exercise trackers, telehealth monitors, and electronic health records, to provide users with rich sources of health information.…”

Section: The Promise Of Mhealthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…• audio and video enabled telemedicine applications, such as closed circuit telephone and/or televised conferencing systems, with both data collection tools (often collecting images, or measuring body temperature, heart rate, and brain activity for diagnostic and monitoring purposes) and delivery tools (that can remotely control surgical equipment, and provide treatment instructions) can be set up in different sites to provide mediated (virtual) care to patients who may not have easy access to health care delivery systems [52]; • telephonic and internet-based message systems that can provide individuals with health information via SMS text messages, phone calls, or e-mail via mobile phones [15]; • websites and web-based portals (intranets) that are available to health care consumers via portable lap-top computers, tablets, and smart phones; • wearable (sometimes implantable) devices such as fitness tracking wristbands and other digital monitoring devices [3]; • specialized application software programs (apps) that are typically downloaded on to smart phones, tablets, or laptop computers that provide health information and support, and are often linked to Internet delivered resources and services [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, there is growing enthusiasm for using mHealth applications within health care and health promotion communities with a range of different audiences, both domestically and internationally [10,50].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The relevance of health literacy to mHealth

Kreps

2017

ISU

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Abstract. This paper examines the importance of health literacy to the design and use of mobile digital health information technology (mHealth) applications. Over the past two decades mHealth has evolved to become a major health communication channel for delivering health care, promoting health, and tracking health behaviors. Yet, there are serious communication challenges that must be addressed concerning the best way to design and utilize mHealth application to achieve key health promotion goals, including assuring the appropriateness and effectiveness of mHealth messaging for audiences with different communication competencies, styles, and health literacy levels, to ensure that mHealth applications are truly effective tools for health promotion.Health literacy is one of the major communication issues relevant to the effective use of mHealth. To be effective, mhealth applications need to match the messages conveyed via these mobile media to the specific health communication needs, orientations, and competencies of intended audience members. Unfortunately, current evidence suggests that many mHealth applications are difficult for audiences to utilize because they provide health information that is not easy for many consumers to understand and apply.Health literacy refers to the ability of participants within the health care system to accurately interpret and utilize relevant health information and resources to achieve their health goals. Evidence suggests that many consumers possess limited levels of health literacy to adequately understand health information, especially when they are feeling ill, since health literacy is both a trait (limited education, language facility, etc.), and a state condition (based on how their current physical and mental states influence their abilities to communicate effectively). Therefore, it is incumbent upon mHealth developers to design and utilize message systems. Strategies for designing and implementing mHealth applications to meet the health literacy levels of different audiences are described in this article.

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Development, usability and quality evaluation of the resilient mobile application for women with breast cancer

Rezaee

Asadi

Yazdani

et al. 2022

Health Science Reports

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Introduction Mental health problems as a consequence of cancer lower the quality of life of cancer patients. Despite increasing studies of breast cancer‐focused mobile health applications (m‐Health apps), there is less research on breast cancer patients' quality of life or well‐being. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the usability and quality of an educational m‐Health app aimed at improving the resilience of breast cancer in women. Methods This study was conducted in four phases. It included extracting the requirements of the app through the nominal group technique. Based on these results, an m‐Health app was developed and evaluated in terms of usability and quality by two scales, System Usability Scale and Mobile App Rating Scale questionnaires, respectively. Finally, the role of patients' age and educational backgrounds in the use of the app was assessed. The relationship between learnability and usability of the app was measured by the T‐Test. Results The app was developed with three user interfaces. Its usability developed from the patient's point of view scored a remarkable score of 83.20 with a 95% confidence interval. This value was too indicative of high satisfaction with the usefulness and the possibility of recommending it to other cancer survivors. The results of the quality evaluation from an expert's point of view showed that this app had good functionality. Evaluation of the role of demographic information in the use of the app showed that it can be used for all age groups with different levels of education. The app did not differ significantly between learnability and usability. Conclusion The development of m‐Health apps, based on usability principles that are suitable for all age groups with different levels of education, is welcomed by cancer patients.

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Evaluating and selecting mobile health apps: strategies for healthcare providers and healthcare organizations

Cited by 259 publications

References 18 publications

Applicability of acceptance and commitment therapy-based mobile app in depression nursing

Applicability of acceptance and commitment therapy-based mobile app in depression nursing

The relevance of health literacy to mHealth

Development, usability and quality evaluation of the resilient mobile application for women with breast cancer

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